Marimuthu 1 and B.A. Daniel 2

R. Marimuthu 1 and B.A. Daniel 2

Zoo Outreach Organisation (ZOO) in collaboration with Elephant Conservation Network (ECN) organized

a series of three “Getting along with Elephants” training workshops in Thailand. This was ZOO’s seventh series of workshops and the previous workshops were held in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia and Nepal. Totally 20 HECx workshops have been organized and 597 people were trained.

The workshops were held at The Pavilion, Rim Kwai Resort, Kanchanaburi, Thailand from 15-24 August 2011. ECN selected participants representing all sectors of the community. Ninety persons (90) participated from 35 different institutions. They all live near villages of Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park, Erawan National Park, Kui Buri National

Understanding elephants past and present

Park, Sai Yok National Park and

distribution through a map activity

Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary, which are major human elephant conflict areas. They were community leaders & members, teachers, other school staff and management, farmers, forest/ wildlife department staff, NGO representatives, education officials, Sub-district Associate Organisation officers, university students, village head and its staff, women community leaders and volunteers.

US Fish and Wildlife Service under the Asian Elephant Conservation Fund chiefly funded the workshop and other sponsors were Columbus Zoo, USA and Koln Zoo, Germany. The local supporters were Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary, Regional Protected Area Administration Office (Baan Pong)- Department of National Park, Wildlife

A participant explaining his illustrations on elephant history

importance and conservation issues Provincial Government and Provincial

and Plants Conservation, Kanchanaburi

presentation in all three workshops on

associated with elephants in Thailand. Education Office, Ministry of Education,

“Asian Elephants-Habitat and

Active learning techniques were used Kanchanaburi.

Conservation scenarios in Thailand”.

Dr. B.A. Daniel and R. Marimuthu of

as they are very effective along with a

range of education materials. The programme was attended by Ms.

Zoo Outreach Organisation and Ms.

Jittin Ritthirat of ECN were the major

Sally Walker, Founder and Director of

trainers and few of ECN staff were

Education Materials

Teaching Guide: this is the primary tool workshop series, Ms. Belinda Stewart-

ZOO and Project Officer of this

intern trainees. Ms. Jittin had been

kit used in the workshops. The Cox, Founder and Executive Director of

invited to the Nepal HECx workshop in

training manual contains a variety of ECN, Mr. Oeb Cheongsaard, Wildlife

February 2009 as a participant and

active learning modules or techniques Director, Department of National Parks,

subsequently she became one of our

to reach a wide range of ages and Wildlife and Plant Conservation-

intern trainees.

educational and social levels, including Regional Protected Area Administration

illiterate or non-English speaking Office, Ban Pong Region and Mr.

The main goals of the training are to

persons. It was developed in English Khanchit Srinoppawan, Chief of

bring about attitudinal and behavioral

and translated into Thai. Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary.

change for people afflicted by elephant

visits. They are taught to avoid

Dr. Mattana Srikajang, Senior

confrontation and conflict and embrace

1 Education Officer, ZOO, Coimbatore.

Researcher, Wildlife Research Division

peaceful coexistence between human

marimuthu@zooreach.org

of Department of National Parks,

and elephant. They learn to 2 Scientist ZOO, Coimbatore.

Wildlife and Plant Conservation gave a

understand the cultural and ecological

badaniel@zooreach.org